Collapsible snowshoe

ABSTRACT

A COLLAPSIBLE SNOW SHOE WHEREIN HINGE MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED ALONG THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAMEWORK THEREOF TO PERMIT THE SAME TO BE FOLDED, THE HINGE STRUCTURE PERMITTING FOLDING OF THE FRAME INTO SUBSTANTIALLY SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP AND THE HINGE BEING DESIGNED TO BE RECEIVABLE INTO THE FRAMEWORK WITH MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STRENGTH AT THE HINGE POINTS TO PREVENT COLLAPSING OF THE SHOE WHEN THE SAME IS BEING NORMALLY USED.

Jan. 19, 1971 w, SHARRATT ET AL 3,555,797

COLLAPSIBLE SNOWSHOE Filed June 20, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS M'urfe B. 51/142249 .5 Y J'O/V/V HYEN Jan. 19, 1971 w. B. SHARRATT ET AL 3,555,707

COLLAPSIBLE SNOWSHOE Filed June .20; 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'IORS WINTER ,5. S/mR/Mrr Ja/m/ 577YN United States Patent 3,555,707 COLLAPSIBLE SN OWSHOE Walter B. Sharratt, Rte. 1, Box 701M, and John Sayen, Rte. 1, Box 701, both of Mound, Minn. 55364 Filed June 20, 1969, Ser. No. 835,160 Int. Cl. A63c 13/00 US. Cl. 36-4.5 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible snow shoe wherein hinge members are provided along the longitudinally extending framework thereof to permit the same to be folded; the hinge structure permitting folding of the frame into substantially side by side relationship and the hinge being designed to be receivable into the framework with means associated therewith to provide additional strength at the hinge points to prevent collapsing of the shoe when the same is being normally used.

The use of snow shoes is well known by various sportsmen and the demand for snow shoes has increased with the advent of the snowmobile and the increase in other winter sports activity.

Snow shoes as presently known in the art are formed from bent wooden frames with cat-gut webbing stretched tautly between the frame to provide a supporting network for the user. The framework structure is of one piece construction and certain of the presently known snow shoes are of suflicient length to prove cumbersome in transporting the same. This is particularly true with snowmobile users as the amount of storage space in snowmobiles is particularly limited and it is difficult to carry the presently available snow shoes.

Applicants have provided a snow shoe device which is foldable along selected frame portions thereof to permit the same to be substantially reduced in length for storing and transportation thereof. In accomplishing the foldability of the snow shoe embodying the applicants concepts certain considerations were necessary to provide a hinge unit which would afford proper folding thereof while also meeting the requirements that the framework be substantially rigid in its normally used position.

Applicants have provided hereina snow shoe which is foldable along its longitudinal dimension into a substantially compact package wherein the framework structures are in substantially side by side relationship when the shoe is folded.

(It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a snow shoe device which is foldable along the longitudinal frame portions thereof to provide in folded condition a substantially compact package.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a snow shoe device having easily replaced webbed sections such that should one of the webs become damaged the replacement thereof is easily facilitated.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a snow shoe structure having a frame formed from metallic tubular members.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a snow shoe device which includes a frame provided of hollow tubular members having webbing anchoring or receiving members arranged thereon to permit the insertion and removal of the supporting webs therethrough.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same ice or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a snow shoe embodying applicants concept;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the shoe embodying applicants concepts in folded position;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation illustrating the hinge portion of the frame structure illustrating a first disconnecting movement;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a second disconnecting movement;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along 77 of FIG. 6 illustrating the internal movement of the hinge structure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the structure shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 in its folded position.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings the snow shoe embodying applicants concept is generally designated 10 includes a tubular frame member having a front tip section 11 disposed angularly upward with respect to the remainder of the shoe frame and includes a formulation including a rounded tip portion 12 with the frame member extending rearwardly in diverging relation therefrom to a pair of spaced side members 13, 14 which members extend rearwardly to a converging frame section 15, 16 which converging sections meet in a trailing tail member 17.

Tail portion 17 is provided by joining the converging side members 15, 16 into a common member through welding or other positive attachment means. As illustrated the longitudinally extending sides 13, 14 converge from the end points of the diverging sections at a uniform rate to provide a proper esthetic design to the overall etfect of the shoe 10. Obviously the side elements 13, 14 could extend in parallel relation without departing from the scope of the invention. The side frame elements 13, 14 are divided into front portion 13a, 14a and a rear portion 13b, 14b. A hinge element generally designated 18 is positioned between the front 13a, 14a and rear 13b, 14b portions of the side frame elements 13, 14 and it is this specific hinge element which permits the folding of the shoe and to which the major portion of this application is directed.

The remainder of the shoe frame includes a plurality of spaced web attachment members designated respectively 19 which members are arranged along the side frame elements 13, 14 of the device and in form shown include D-shaped members having the open ends thereof rigidly attached to the side frame elements 13-14. This D-shaped concept then provides a web receiving passage 19a to permit the insertion of the'web element 20 therein.

A plurality of transversely extending support members designated respectively 21, 22, 23, 24 are provided in spaced relation along the longitudinal dimension of the shoe framework and these members, particularly transverse elements 21, 23 and 24, are provided with the D- shaped web receiving elements 19 for the attachment of web portions 20 thereto. The particular spacing of the transverse elements 21, 22 and 23 is as utilized in normal snow shoe construction to provide a particular foot support area wherein the foot is supported thereon without resting the same upon the web element of the shoe.

A foot binding device is provided which includes a toe receiving element 25 which is secured at its forward end 25a to the first 21 of said transverse members by a pair of attachment thongs 26-26 or the like and the rear portion of the toe engaging member 25 likewise is attached to the second 22 of such transverse members through a similar thong arrangement. The toe attachment member 25 includes a flexible member designed to receive the toe of a boot or a shoe therein with a tie 27 arranged through eyelets thereon to tie the same about the toe of the boot or shoe. Extending rearwardly from the toe member 25 is a heel engaging thong 28 with adjustment means 29 thereon to facilitate the receiving and tightening of the same about the boot inserted into the toe element 25. This sort of structure is not new to the art and a minimal amount of discussion is devoted thereto herein. It should be noted that the third transverse member 23 is positioned at a point where the normal size heel of a boot would rest thereon in use of the shoe.

Web member 20 in the particular form considered by the applicant is of a substantially broad surface material of relatively thin cross-section and may be formed of nylon belting or the like. This relatively wide belting concept will provide a relatively large surface area to support the shoe on snow while demanding that a minimum of attachments are made to the frame portions of the unit. The nylon webbing is strung through the D-shaped attachment members 19 to form a proper supporting pattern and it should be obvious that the particular spacing as illustrated in FIG. 1 is representative of many other styles of lacings that could be utilized without departing from the scope of applicants invention. The webbing 20 may be directly attached to the shoe framework at the various locations or may include tightening devices such as buckles 30 provides to facilitate the removal of the webbing and replacement thereof if necessary. By using a nylon or similar material it is possible to join, through heating techniques, the various layers of the webbing 20 at their junctures such that snow will not become lodged between the webbings at such overlying points.

The hinge portions of applicants device generally designated 18 is best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the form shown the hinge 18 illustrated is representative of the unit on either side of the framework and includes the front framework member 13a and the rear framework member 13b. In the form shown at least the hinge areas of the frame are hollow or tubular and the hinge structure includes a stationary member 35 received into the passage within the front tubular member 13a and a movable portion 36 received into the rear frame section 13b. Front hinge portion 35 is of a size to permit proper receipt thereof into the tubular member 13a and is pinned into position therein through a pin member 37 which pin extends outwardly from the outer surface of the frame member 13a and is provided with a pair of stop members 38, 39 on the opposite ends thereof. Movable hinge portion 36 includes a member having an exterior surface adapted for a sliding fit into the passage within the tubular member 13b and includes a slot 40 between the ends thereof which extends transversely thereacross and which is designed to slide upon a second pin connecting member 41 which pin member 41 again extends through the frame structure 131; which pin 41 has a pair of flange members 42, 43 on the exterior ends thereof again without the tube member 13b. Hinge portion 18 includes a third connective member generally designated 44 which is received in pivotal relation within transverse slots 35a, 36a which are formed in the ends of the hinge members 35, 36 with pin members 35b, 36b extending therethrough to permit the attachment member 44 to ob tain its pivotal rotation. This particular connective member 44 is of a size to permit as particularly illustrated in FIG. 8 the folding of the frame members 13a, 1312 into substantially side by side relationship and for this reason the connective member 44 must be of a sufficient length to permit a double hinging action between the members. Obviously if the hinge were a single action hinge some limitation upon the rotation of the framework portion 13a, 1311 would result.

Surrounding the hinge 18 of the unit is a sleeve member designated 50 of a sufficient length to cover the entire hinge area and extend between the aformentioned pin members 37, 41. This tubular member 50 may be slid over the hinge structure when the same is not being utilized to properly hold the front and rear 13a, 13b frame sections in proper aligned position to provide the necessary strength entirely along the frame portion. Arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship along the sides of the sleeve member 50 are pairs of opposed L- shaped slots designated respectively 51, 52 which obviously to one skilled in the art will permit sliding of the tubular member 50 longitudinally over the aforementioned pin members 37, 41 and thereafter be rotated to capture the extending portions thereof and thereby lock the same onto the two sections 13a, 13b of the longitudinal side supports 13.

The operation of this particular hinge structure is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 8 which following the operation thereof from FIG. 4 suggests that the cylindrical member 50 has been rotated from the locking position to permit longitudinal sliding thereon to expose the joinder between frame members 13a, 13b. Upon the application of a longitudinal separating force to the frame portions 13a, and 13b, the inner hinge members 35, 36 and the connective portion 44 therebetween will be pulled from the housing area within the rear portion 13b to the extent of the aforementioned slot 40 abutting with the pin element 41. At this time the hinge area is completely exposed and it is possible to fold the hinge into the position illustrated in FIG. 8. To place the snow shoe in operating condition the shoe is, of course, unfolded into aligned position and the application of a closing longitudinal force will force the hinge structure, through the utilization of a slot 40 and pin member 41 into the rear frame portion 13b until the ends of the frame come into abutment. At this time sliding the longitudinal closure sleeve 50 forwardly over the joint and rotating the same such that the L-shaped locking channels again come into play over the respective pin members 37, 41 will positively lock the device in proper longitudinal arrangement. The utilization of the sliding hinge device may in itself Pro-. vide sufiicient strength to the unit but the locking sleeve 50 increases this strength and prevents the possibility of the shoe sections coming apart during their use.

It should be obvious that although applicants illustrate a tubular structure for the utilization of their hinge device that the same technique could be utilized with substantially rigid frameworks wherein the hinge arrangement is not as thoroughly contained.

It should be obvious that applicants have provided a new and unique snow shoe arrangement which permits folding thereof at least one portion of its longitudinal dimension and which also includes a web structure which may be easily removed and replaced should any portions of the web become damaged. The web structure is completely removable from the frame unit without any particular difficult assembly problems while still affording a sufficient support area for the user.

What is claimed is:

1. A snow shoe device including:

(a) a frame structure having at least a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending frame elements and being joined at their front and rear ends;

(b) a plurality of web members extending between portions of the frame to provide a supporting surface;

(0) means for removably attaching a boot to the shoe;

(d) at least one hinge element arranged in each of said longitudinally extending frame elements including double acting members to permit the sections of the shoe to be folded into side by side relation.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said hinge element including:

(a) a first stationary element arranged on a first frame portion;

(b) a second moveable element arranged on a second frame portion;

(0) an intermediate link member pivotally connected respectively to said stationary and moveable element.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said moveable element arranged to slide longitudinally with respect to said second frame portion whereby in a first position said hinge is retained in a locked longitudinal position and in a second position said hinge is free for hinging action.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said second frame portion being hollow at said hinge area to permit sliding of said moveable element therein.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a cover member arranged on said frame elements and slidable thereon and receivable over said hinge area to prevent movement of said hinge when overlying the same.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 and means for locking said cover member over said hinge area.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1 and tightening members provided on said web members to permit tightening thereof.

-8. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said web members being provided of a heat joinable material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,925 8/1917 Gordon 362.5 2,693,038 11/ 1954 Wincentsen et a1. 364.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 149,459 3 1955 Switzerland.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

